Then-Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski (left) and Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke in November 2024. (City of Surrey/SPS/YouTube)
Lipinski alleges that the Surrey Police Board broke the Police Act when it terminated his contract.
Lipinski was hired in 2020 based on a resume that included Deputy Chief of the Edmonton Police Service (2007-2011) and Deputy Chief of the Delta Police (2016-2020) with five years in between as Assistant Commissioner of the RCMP in B.C.
But, Lipinski claimed that he had a challenging relationship with Locke, beginning when she was a city councillor. Locke was elected mayor in 2022 by defeating Doug McCallum, who spearheaded the formation of the municipal force.
“Ms. Locke was firmly opposed to the transition from the SPS to the RCMP and seemed to be working, publicly and privately, to undermine me or have me terminated,” Lipinski said.
Lipinski, whose full name is Roman Nick Lipinski, said he worked 60 to 65 hours a week, six or seven days a week, and rarely took vacation. When he did, he remained available and reviewed SPS watch reports every 12 hours. During his policing career, he said he never missed a day of duty to illness.
“I put in this amount of effort and intensity because I wanted the SPS to succeed and I wanted to build the best possible police service for the citizens of Surrey,” Lipinksi’s affidavit said.
Lipinski’s term was supposed to run until December 2028. He said he recently learned under a freedom of information request that four of the five members of the Surrey Police Board who were appointed in 2026 — and “apparently supported my termination” — were recommended by the City of Surrey to the province, and their resumes were submitted directly to the province “apparently without any open posting or competition.”
(SPS/X)
The notice of civil claim, filed by lawyer Robin McFee, said Lipinski’s performance reviews were “exceptional.” In 2025, his base annual salary was $375,500.
“I remain ready, willing, and able to discharge the duties and responsibilities of the office and return to active service in accordance with the terms of my appointment,” Lipinski said.
None of the allegations has been tested in court. A statement of defence is awaited from the police board.
Locke is running for re-election in the Oct. 17 election against McCallum, Coun. Linda Annis, Honveer Randhawa and Mike Starchuk, the former Surrey chief fire prevention officer and NDP MLA.